Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Valley Buzz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Valley Buzz’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with purple stripes and a purple with red/purple striped labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Valley Buzz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Valley Buzz’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2001 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Minho Princess’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Taisuco Jewel’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2009 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2009 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Valley Buzz’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with purple stripes and a purple with         red/purple striped labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Valley Buzz’, the female parent ‘Minho Princess’ is white with purple stripes on the edges and on the labellum. The male parent ‘Taisuco Jewel’ is purple with a small white edge and a red/purple labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’ are white with purple stripes and a purple with red/purple striped labellum.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Valley Buzz’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Maryland’ (unpatented). The flowers of ‘Maryland’ are about 7 cm, whereas the flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’ are about 6 cm. The flowers of ‘Valley Buzz’ have more purple stripes on the petals and sepals and more white in the labellum than the flowers of ‘Maryland’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Valley Buzz’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Valley Buzz’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Valley Buzz’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Valley Buzz’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Valley Buzz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Valley Buzz’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Valley Buzz’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Valley Buzz’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Valley Buzz’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Valley Buzz’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Valley Buzz’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Valley Buzz’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Minho Princess’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Taisuco Jewel’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190B); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 50 cm. Spread: about 45 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Small; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme. Vigor: moderate. Crop time:             Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks 2 leaves             appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after a cold             treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of about             19° C. about 1-3 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-10 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 8 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (137B).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 136A). Under side: green (RHS 137C). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Raceme.—Quantity per plant: About 1 to 3. Number of flowers             per raceme: About 21. Length: About 40 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: about 10 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm.             Strength: strong. Aspect: upright. Texture: glabrous and             smooth. Color: green (RHS 137B). Internode: Length: about 30             mm.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 16 mm. Diameter (at             midpoint): about 13 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped with a bump             on one side. Color: yellow/green (RHS 145A and RHS 145C)             with purple (RHS N78A). Orientation: same as flowers             (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-3             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 55 mm. Diameter: about 60 mm. Quantity and             arrangement: three petals and three sepals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate (little triangular) and weakly cupped.             Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate (crenated).             Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 34 mm. Width: about             29 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under             surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper             side & under side: white (RHS NN155D) with purple stripes             (RHS N78A). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2             prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral             lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum             fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward             and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Apex: oval. Length: about 20 mm.             Width (not flattened): about 19 mm. Depth of tube created by             lateral lobes of labellum: about 8 mm. Texture: Upper &             under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):             Mid lobe, upper side: at the base a little white (RHS             NN155D) and yellow (RHS 12B). Main color is purple (RHS             N78A) with red/purple stripes (RHS 59A). Under side: white             (RHS NN155D). At the base the edges are yellow (RHS 12B).             Purple stripes (RHS N78A) and red/purple (RHS 59A). Lateral             lobes, upper and under side: at the base white (RHS NN155D)             and yellow (RHS 12B) with purple stripes (RHS 78A) upper             edge purple/violet (RHS N80A). Cirrhi: about 5 mm. color:             purple (RHS N79A and RHS N79C). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 6 mm. Width (not flattened): about 6 mm.             Color: yellow (RHS 11A) with red/purple spots (RHS 72A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length:             about 24 mm. Width: about 19 mm. Apex: oval; dorsal has             little notch and lateral sepals are little pointy. Texture:             Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when             fully opened): Upper side, dorsal and lateral: white (RHS             NN155D) with purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A). Under side,             dorsal: main color is white (RHS NN155D) with a green/white             haze (RHS 157A). At the base a yellow/green haze (RHS 145C).             Further purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A). Lateral: white (MS             NN155D) with a yellow/green haze (RHS 145C) and             purple/violet stripes (RHS N81A).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture:             glabrous and smooth. Color: green/white (RHS 157A) and             yellow/green (RHS 144A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:             pred/urple (RHS 72A and RHS 70B).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color: orange             (RHS 26A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Valley Buzz’, as illustrated and described herein. 